Two peers have proposed amending the Renters’ Rights Bill so it limits how much landlords can hike rents on their tenants.
Baroness Janke, a Liberal Democrat Peer, tabled an amendment which would limit rent rises to the Bank of England Base Rate, with support from Baroness Jones of the Greens.
Meanwhile Lord Best, a crossbench Peer and former chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has tabled an amendment to limit rent rises to Consumer Price Inflation or wage growth, whatever is lower.
This would allow landlords to reset the rent to the market rate every four years, making it a more landlord-friendly form of rent controls, while it is supported by Lord Young (Conservative), Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat) and Baroness Grender (Labour).
The Committee stage for the Bill in the House of Lords for the Bill began yesterday.
Ben Twomey, chief executive at campaign group Generation Rent, said: “Everyone needs a safe, secure and affordable home, it’s the foundation of our lives.
“While price caps rightly exist for our energy and water bills, there is nothing to stop a landlord suddenly hiking the cost of someone’s home. Unchecked rent hikes are forcing people into poverty and homelessness.
“The ending of Section 21 ’no fault’ evictions is a milestone to be celebrated after a decade of Generation Rent campaigning. But some landlords will inevitably start using unaffordable rent hikes as ‘no fault’ evictions in all but name, dampening the impact of this major reform.
“Thankfully, the government can protect us from this. It must listen to peers from across the political spectrum and urgently slam the brakes on soaring rents.”
A maximum of four Peers can support any one amendment.
The ONS reported that private renting was 7.8% more expensive in England the 12 months to March 2025, three times the current level of general inflation.
Scotland’s Housing (Scotland) Bill is currently passing through its parliament, which will limit rental increases in the country from 2027.
As it stands rent increases will be capped at CPI+1% up to a maximum of 6% within a ‘rent control area’.
